By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CEDAR BLUFF – Sophomore right fielder Makayla Kimmons made sure she sent her older sister, senior pitcher Mackenzie Kimmons, out a winner on Cedar Bluff’s softball senior night against Spring Garden.
The younger Kimmons belted a pair of triples and drove in four runs, including the walk-off three-run triple in the bottom of the fifth inning of the Lady Tigers’ 14-4 victory on Thursday.
“I’ve been terrible at hitting lately, so being able to hit two (triples) is awesome,” she said. “It felt amazing to help my seniors and be there for them offensively.”
“She’s been working really hard to get her bat where it needs to be, and it showed up tonight for us,” Cedar Bluff coach Mandy Walker said. “She’s a special kid. She shows up every day. She works hard and does anything we ask her to do with the best attitude.”
Mackenzie Kimmons didn’t let her sister’s clutch triples and the rest of Cedar Bluff’s hits go to waste. She allowed just one earned run on five hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts in earning the win from the circle.
“I didn’t let my emotions get to me, even though I knew it would be my last game here,” Mackenzie Kimmons said. “I felt like the girls had my back on the mound and had each other’s backs in the box. It was probably one of the best games I’ve pitched. It was just a really fun night of softball.”
Spring Garden (9-18) took an early 1-0 lead on Hayden Parris’s run-scoring single to left in the top of the first inning, but the Lady Tigers (8-14-1) pushed across four runs in the bottom of the second, beginning with Makayla Kimmons’ first triple of the game that scored their first run.
The Lady Panthers’ Olivia Messer made it a 4-2 game on her run-scoring double to left in the top of the third, but then Cedar Bluff added a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning and two more in the fourth to take an 8-2 advantage.
Spring Garden attempted to come back in the top of the fifth with two runs, including a bloop single to center by Maya Jennings. Messer then drove in Jennings on an infield hit to make it an 8-4 game.
But the Lady Tigers closed things out with six runs in the bottom of the fifth, with the big hit being Makayla Kimmons’ walk-off three-run triple to right.
“We talked yesterday about senior night and it being close to the end,” Walker said. “We just talked about coming out here tonight and just trying to find a way to play fully and finish. I feel like we did that.”
Rylie Walker went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs for Cedar Bluff. Paityn Walker added a pair of hits and walk. Ciana Smith contributed an infield single and walked twice. Tylee Bradford also singled and walked twice. Kyriah Vadon delivered two-run single in the third.
Ava Boatner added a double for Spring Garden. Kendall Birchfield suffered the loss.
“Confidence-wise, it’s always good to beat Spring Garden. I’m just proud of them,” Coach Walker said. I just hope we use that momentum to push us into next week and finish up this season strong.”
Spring Garden travels to Collinsville on Monday at 4:30 p.m. Cedar Bluff is at Glencoe on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
